The Return of the Titans

by James Thompson

  He felt a thrill of excitement run through him. It was the line! The line from the email.

  He clicked on the address. It was an old site, very drab with just one page of writing on it. It talked about the Titan legends and then said that certain stories spoke of the Titans, not as gods, but as a race of beings who had lived in ancient times alongside humans. It also mentioned that the last Titan stronghold, Atlantis, was attacked when humanity turned on the Titans, trying to steal their technology and the Titans had destroyed the island city rather than let their secrets fall into human hands. And that was all of the information on the web site.

  Justin sat back and stared at the screen. Was it possible? Were the Titans more than just a myth? Had they really lived all those thousands of years ago?

  He imagined how it might have been. Legends spoke of Atlantis as being home to humans who had invented flight, who had advanced scientific knowledge. But what if it wasn't humans who had lived there. What if it had been these Titans?

  There were no other references or pages on the site, so Justin shut off the browser. He went through the pages of notes he had taken from other sites. No, there were no other hints that the Titans were anything but mythological gods. But he had a feeling. He wasn't sure why but the idea that they had been a race of people rather than gods just seemed to fit somehow.

  Not that it mattered, he thought. After all, it was an interesting subject but what good was it really? He sighed and put the notes aside. He wondered what he was going to do for the rest of the weekend now that he had exhausted all of the information sources on the Titans. Vaguely depressed, Justin went to bed.

  The next morning, Saturday, Justin got excited again. He thought that the library might have some information that couldn't be found on the net. He knew it was a long shot but it was the only thing that he could think of if he wanted to learn more about what he had privately begun to call his obsession.

  After breakfast, he got cleaned up and dressed and headed for the living room.

  “Mom, is it okay if I go to the library?”

  His mother stared at him for a moment. “The library? Wow. Do people still use those things?”

  He grinned at her dry tone and then shrugged. “I don't know. But I thought it might be fun for a change. You know, to do some research with real books instead of online.”

  “Still exploring ancient myths, hon?”

  He blushed a bit. “It fascinates me, Mom. I'm not even sure why.” Then he hesitated. “But if you need me to stay home, if you have stuff you want me to do, then no problem. I can go some other time.”

  His mother shook her head. “I'm fine, sweetie. Mrs. P will be in soon and she can help me with anything I need. Go on and have fun. Just be home for dinner.”

  “I will, Mom, Thanks.” As he turned to go, he looked back over his shoulder. “And don't let her hear you call her Mrs. P. I did that once and she almost peeled the paint off the walls when she let me have an earful.”

  His mother giggled, sounding like a naughty school girl. “I know, Just. I know. Off you go.”

  He waved and headed for the door.

  The library was six blocks away but it was a warm autumn day and Justin enjoyed the walk.

  When he arrived, he stared at the massive gray building for a moment and tried to remember the last time he had been here. Two years, or was it three? He shrugged and walked up the stairs, passing between two bronze lions that sat at the bottom of the steps.

  Inside, he looked around and then headed for the information desk. A middle-aged man in a brown suit was sitting there, frowning at a computer screen. Justin stood at the desk for a moment but the man seemed oblivious to him. He finally cleared his throat loudly and the man jumped in his seat slightly and looked at him.

  “Excuse me, sir. Could I get some information please?”

  The man smiled, showing a row of bright, uneven teeth. “Of course, of course. Sorry I didn't see you.” He gestured at the computer. “Blasted thing is doing a search in slow motion.” He sighed. “Anyway, what can I help you with?”

  “Well, I was wondering if you have any books on mythology. You know, ancient Greek stuff and all that?”

  The librarian chuckled. “Oh yes, that we do. Not many people seem interested in the old legends anymore, but we do have a rather large selection.” He pointed down the main aisle. “Just head back to section M. Turn left and it's the sixth bookshelf in.”

  Justin nodded and thanked the man. He found the section on ancient myths very quickly then just stared at the rows of books that towered above him. There were dozens, maybe even a hundred or more and for a minute he just stood there, overwhelmed.

  Finally he began scanning through the titles on the spines of the books. Greek Myths and The Modern Day. Gods, Goddesses and Monsters. Olympus: Then and Now. On and on they went. Justin finally just pulled out a few books at random, found an empty desk and sat down to scan through the books.

  He enjoyed actually reading a real book for a change and not just some words on a computer screen, but he was also disappointed. Nothing was really different from what he had read online. Oh sure, there were different authors and points of view but the core legends were basically all the same.

  There weren't a lot of references to the Titans. Authors seemed a lot more interested in the Olympian gods than their predecessors. Maybe, he thought, there was just more information on the Olympic myths than the Titan legends.

  Time passed. Justin went through book after book but kept feeling disappointed. He felt like something was missing, that he was searching for something just out of his reach. But he didn't know what. And after several hours he sat back and admitted defeat. There just wasn't any more to discover, he concluded.

  As he put the last books back on the shelves, he had an idea. Maybe that helpful guy at the desk would have a clue on where he should look. It was worth a shot.

  Justin made his way back toward the front desk. He looked around and realized for the first time that the library was almost empty. Didn't people read books anymore? He glanced at his watch. It was only two o'clock but he was starting to feel hungry as he realized that he'd been reading for about four hours. Time flies, he thought whimsically.

  When he reached the desk, the man wasn't there. Probably putting books away or something, he thought and leaned against the desk. He looked around. There was no sign of the librarian. Down the main aisle there were several reading desks and chairs but he could only see three people sitting at different spots. He kept looking for the man from the front desk or any other library staff. He couldn't see any. The place was very quiet and still. Even the people reading weren't moving. He thought he noticed something odd about the readers.

  He focused on them and realized that they all looked similar. They were all men wearing dark brown suits. It struck Justin as odd that three men would be wearing suits and reading in a library on a Saturday afternoon. And they all had short brown hair. None were wearing glasses and all were staring intently at the books in front of them.

  Justin watched them for a long minute. He felt a stab of anxiety in his stomach. Something was not right here. He looked around one last time and decided that it was time to go. He doubted that the librarian could show him any other books about Titans anyway. And he was really hungry now. Maybe Mrs. P had left him a snack in the fridge.

  He turned to go and then heard the squeal of a chair sliding across the marble floor. He looked back and saw all three men stand up at the same time. Each one was looking at him. They said nothing, just pushed the chairs back against the desks and began to move toward him.

  Justin's stomach clenched. He turned and started to walk toward the front entrance. As he left the building and the afternoon sun made him squint after spending hours indoors, he thought he heard footsteps behind him. He hurried down the steps and turned toward home. As he walked he looked back at the library. All three men walked out one after the other. They moved down the steps and then stopped. All of
them were watching him intently. Justin looked away and started walking more quickly.

  He glanced behind him every few minutes on the walk home. The men were following him, he was sure of that. But they weren't hurrying to catch up to him. If he increased his pace, they increased theirs. When he tried slowing down to see what would happen, they slowed as well. He was frightened but also confused.

  Why should anyone, let alone three people, want to follow him? And if they wanted him for something, which he didn't want to think about, why weren't they trying to catch him? All he knew was that he had to get home where it was safe.

  By the time Justin got to his building, he was panting and sweating. He hurried up the front steps and took one last look behind him. The three men were still behind him but they had stopped at the corner of the building and just stood there, staring. He watched them for a moment and then they moved toward him. He turned and raced into the building, slamming the front door behind him.

  “What's the rush, Justin?”

  He jumped and gave a little yelp. Wilson stood just inside the lobby entrance, his mop in one hand and a dust rag in the other. He was wiping down the edge on the door frame.

  “Wilson!” Justin just stared at the old man for a moment.

  The man stopped cleaning and looked at the teen. “You're white as a sheet, lad! What's going on?” He sounded concerned.

  “I...I was followed. Home. From the library.” Justin felt dizzy with relief at being home and seeing Wilson but he was also frightened.

  “Followed?” The old man dropped his rag and started for the door. “Followed by who? What does he look like?”

  “Wilson, wait!” Justin grabbed his arm. “There are three of them. Don't go out there.”

  The man stopped and looked down at Justin. “Three?” The boy nodded. “But why would three men be following you? That doesn't make sense.”

  “I know, I know. I can't understand it either.” Justin swallowed and took a deep breath, trying to calm down. “They were in the library and when I left, all three followed me.” He shook his head. “And it's even weirder, Wilson. They're all dressed alike and even look alike. I don't get it.”

  Wilson's eyes narrowed. “Dressed alike? What are they wearing?”

  “They're all wearing brown, three piece suits. And they all have short brown hair. It's creepy.”

  Wilson turned back to the door, muttering what sounded like curses under his breath. “Wait here, Justin,” he said and slammed the door shut tight behind him as he headed outside.

  Justin stood under the dull glow of the hallway light and waited. He was tempted to sneak out to the outer door and see what Wilson was doing but he couldn't quite bring himself to do it. So he stood in the lobby, shifting from foot to foot and waited.

  After what seemed like an hour but was only a few minutes, Wilson came back in. He shut the door firmly and, for some reason, left his mop leaning against the door, mop-head up. Then he just stood there, looking at Justin.

  “Well, what happened, Wilson?” Justin asked eagerly. “Were they still there? Did they say anything? What's going on?”

  The old man held up his hand and Justin quieted down. “Let's get you upstairs, Justin,” he said quietly. “We should tell your mother about this.”

  Justin was confused. “But what happened?”

  Wilson walked toward the stairs. “I'll tell you and your Mom together, lad. Come on.”

  The boy followed Wilson up the stairs. He was totally confused but he didn't say anything. He knew how stubborn the old man could be, so he knew he'd have to wait until Wilson decided to explain.

  When they reached his apartment, Justin opened the door and Wilson followed him in. The sound of the TV was echoing down the hallway as usual. The boy smiled slightly. The sound of home. He looked at the old man. “Come on in, Wilson,” he said and walked toward the living room. Wilson followed, saying nothing.

  “Hey Mom,” Justin said as he entered the room. She smiled at him and then looked puzzled as she saw the janitor.

  “Good afternoon, Miles,” she said and then looked at her son. “What's going on, Just?”

  Justin turned to Wilson who walked past him to the sofa. He stood over Justin's mother for a moment. The boy couldn't see the man's face but his mother's expression turned from puzzlement to alarm. Then the old man knelt beside the sofa, reached out and took her hand. Justin just stared in surprise.

  “Mrs. McLeod,” he began but she interrupted him.

  “Miles, we've known each other for over a decade. Since when have you called me Mrs. McLeod?” She smiled at him gently, although she still looked afraid.

  Wilson sighed. “Julia,” he said and she nodded. “Justin was followed home today, from the library.”

  She looked from Wilson to Justin and back again. “And?” she said.

  “They were wearing brown suits. There were three of them.” Julia's face turned white and Wilson nodded. “The time has come.”

  “But I'm not ready,” she whispered. “Justin's not ready. It's too soon!”

  “I know, Julia, I know,” Wilson said sadly. “I don't know what's happened but...”

  “Wait a minute!” Justin walked over and stood beside Wilson. “What time has come? What are you talking about?”

  “Just a second, sweetie. Please.” His mother reached out and took Justin's hand. Then she looked at the old man. “Where are they now?”

  Wilson shrugged. “They saw me and left. Quickly. But they will be back, in greater numbers. I've sealed the building against them but...” He shrugged.

  “It won't hold,” Justin's mother said with certainty.

  “No Julia, it won't hold. I have to get him out of here. Now.”

  She nodded and sighed. “Give us a moment, will you?”

  Wilson nodded. “Of course. I have to fill the bathtub anyway.” He stood up more quickly than Justin thought he could and left the room, heading for the bathroom.

  Justin watched him leave then looked at his mother. “He's having a bath? Now?”

  Julia smiled. “No, Justin. Now listen to me. We don't have much time. Here, help me to sit up please.”

  Justin took her hands and gently pulled her to a sitting position. She patted the sofa beside her and he sat down.

  “I know you have a thousand questions, Just. We don't have the time to answer them all. But what's happening has to do with the changes you've gone through.”

  “You mean like not being hurt easily?” he asked.

  “Yes that, but other things as well. Things you probably haven't even noticed. Like the fact that you never get sick. Haven't you wondered about that?”

  He stared at her. “Sure I do, Mom. Remember when I had the flu that time? I thought I was going to die, seriously.”

  She shook her head. “That was over two years ago, sweetie. You haven't had so much as a sniffle since you turned twelve. There are other things as well, but we don't have time to list them.” She squeezed his hands. “What I'm saying is that you are different. And you aren't the only one. There are others out there, like you, who are also changing.”

  Justin was becoming more confused. “Okay, so I'm different. So what? Everyone's different, Mom. Why should those guys be after me just because of that?

  His mother sighed in frustration. “Sweetie, I don't have time to tell you. Oh, I wish I'd been able to explain earlier. To get you ready. But we thought we had time. And now, there's no time left.”

  The boy opened his mouth to ask who this 'we' was that his mother kept referring to, when suddenly he heard a low boom. The room shook slightly. “Huh. Sounds like someone had an accident outside,” he said.

  His mother shook her head just as another, louder boom echoed through the apartment. The room shook again, more violently. At that moment, Wilson hurried into the living room.

  “They're trying to get in, Julia. I have to get him out of here.”

  She nodded and looked at Justin intently. “You have to go with W
ilson, hon. He will send you somewhere safe. Somewhere that these men can't find you. You will have all your questions answered there. And I will know you're all right.”

  He shook his head. “No way, Mom. If there is someone breaking in here, I'm not leaving you alone. They might hurt you.”

  “Justin, it's okay. They don't want me. They want you. And they won't hurt me because I don't know where Wilson is sending you.”

  “What? But then how do you know it's safe?”

  She looked at the janitor. “Because I trust Miles. And so should you.” The room shook a third time and Julia pushed her son toward Wilson. Justin stood up and looked back at her. “When things are safe, you can come back, sweetie. Hopefully it won't be too long.” She stretched out her arms and Justin bent down and hugged her. She felt so tiny and frail in his arms. He didn't want to let go. But after a moment, she relaxed and pushed him away gently. “Go now, sweetie. Be good. And be safe.”

  Wilson took his arm and led him toward the hallway. Justin looked back at his mother.

  “Love you, sweetie,” she said with a sad smile.

  “Love you, Mom,” he answered, almost a whisper. Then Wilson pulled him from the room.

  To Justin's surprise, they didn't turn toward the main door but instead went down the hall to the bathroom.

  “Um, Wilson? If we have to leave, shouldn't we be going that way?” he asked, pointing toward the front of the apartment.

  “No, Justin. We would run into those men if we went that way. They are already in the building.”

  “What?” Justin stared at him, bewildered. “How can you know that?”

  The old man shook his head and they entered the bathroom. The big cast iron tub was full of water. Justin had always loved that tub. It was big enough and deep enough to relax in no matter how far he could stretch out. Now he just looked at it in puzzlement.

  “Okay Justin, I want you to stand up on the edge of the tub. Grab the shower curtain so you don't slip in.”

  The boy stared at Wilson for a moment, then shrugged and stepped on to the tub.